So I created a new blog (hosted on Blogspot) more focused on my new creation "Un lieu sur terre". The new blog will still talk about what we enjoy around our house but with a "greener" emphasis and the behind the scene/atelier of my brand "Un lieu sur terre".

Monday, May 24, 2010

We are back from our 5 days break in a pretty fantastic place *. We went on what seem to be a family ritual outing for the past year and half :: we went camping on a different farm this time (www.unlitaupre.fr).

I have been thinking a lot about the future for our kids and movies like this one, this one and thisone are amazing eye openers. Peter asked me to order this one for us to read also.

We try to explain to our kids that recycling is, in the end, not the ideal solution... The ideal one is to consume less...

As a proof for them {and us too} : we "inspected' our trash during our stay on the farm. In 5 days we filled only half a size of a regular trash bag and recycled very little things [glass mainly and few plastic items]. The cardboards and papers helped us start our fire in the morning. Foods scarps were given to farm animals.

I know tough to apply in cities... Even with help from our "buddies" we cant' equal such a good results. But as always, our stay at the farm and its experience was very good food for thoughts.

***

In a nutshell : the girls helped a lot around the farm. Taking care of the bunnies, the donkey, the chicks, feeding the goats, cows, chicken, planting potatoes, making bread, apple pies, playing hard outside, slept in long jones like cowboys/girls ( it was still pretty cold at night...! One morning we woke up surrounded by frost...), went on a long donkey ride in the forest, pay a visit to the local milking farm coop.

We reported no body damages ( what a relief!) besides small bruises, cuts and itching from wandering in the woods/grass around.

We had 2 and half days of sunshine out of 5. A good average compared to the two last times...

I took so many pictures this time again that i decided to create a dedicated pagefor all of them!

Since i went to see lovely Miss Bloomsong I really want to get going on the true screen-printing part :: but to do this properly you FIRST need to finalize your idea, your drawings and their final sizes....

Well, I do know KINDA what will be on the screen...

But I am afraid "kinda" is not good enough...

So for the time being I am having fun {a nice way to say beating around the bush} making "prototypes" done with lots of techniques EXCEPT the screen printing one...

I really DON"T like the bird... way too big and honestly ugly...

But the good thing is :: my favorite customer and fan really likes her upcycled pillow...

Here is a sweet Thank you that she made me( with the same house and "egg"!)::

You see, since this was a second hand bed but in perfect condition bed. Only it was varnished... So I had to sand it all first. So far so good. Then i was looking for the "perfect" NON _TOXIC paint. I got very lucky : in our local "Leroy Merlin" store i found the PERFECT one ! Totally eco -friendly : even the container is 100% recycable. No need to go to "la dechetterie" to get rid of it properly. AWESOME! And i found it in the right color {i was wearing the "reference color" on me : a beloved well worn pair of pants}. I am telling you : details are everything {to me!}.

Anyhow, what I did not know was that thanks to our so sunny parisian weather ;-}the paint will take a week to fully dry... I found this out after taking the time to simply read the label on the side...

I was so bummed when i found out that she will have her bad AFTER her birth day... I could have cried... All my efforts ...for close to nothing...?? Non, pas possible!

Once again, my lovely husband told me that in the end, she would not mind so much, too happy to have a new bed.

And once again, he was right.

Just look at her face on the following picture.

...the new one

(still need to finish painting the "balls" ornating the corners...oh well. Tessa asked me to paint them in BRIGHT pink to match the "moon: on her wall! Will do!)

the "old" one...found its new location as a reading/playing nook/tent making in the girls playroom.